05 December, let us pause to remember these young men from our Generation who answered the Sunset call.
05 Dec 1959: Candidate Officer Johannes Petrus Bezuidenhout from the South African Military College was killed in a private motor vehicle accident in Pretoria. He was 21.
05 Dec 1959: P/17552 Able Seaman Edward James van Niekerk from 147 Minesweeping Squadron was killed in a private motor vehicle accident in Simonstown. He was 25.
05 Dec 1963: Air Mechanic Dawid Stephanus Mieny from 68 Air School died of a pulmonary embolism in 1 Military Hospital. He was 17.
05 Dec 1980: 78930682HK Rifleman Frans Nyundu from 202 Battalion SWATF was Killed in Action during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents in Northern Owamboland. He was 32.
05 Dec 1980: 65399156PE Captain Petrus Gerhardus Cilliers from the South African Intelligence Corps died after being accidentally electrocuted at his parent’s house in Auckland Park. He was 32.
05 Dec 1980: 77276848BG Rifleman Jeremia Johannes Claassens from 4 SAI was killed in a private motor vehicle accident on the Bethlehem to Senekal road while on a weekend pass. He was 19.
05 Dec 1980: 76578665BC Lance Corporal Ernst Roy Kemp, a clerk at Air Force Headquarters drowned when he went swimming at "Ou Plaas" near Hartebeespoort Dam. He dived into the water from a cliff and struck rocks below the surface. He was 19.
05 Dec 1981: 77522811BG Rifleman Wayne Leon Jooste from 8 SAI was killed when his Buffel Troop Carrier overturned in Northern Owamboland. He was 20
05 Dec 1983: 79496709BG Private Stefan Willem Welgemoed from the South African Medical College attached to Naval Base Durban, was killed in a military vehicle accident at Richmond. He was 20.
05 Dec 1983: 80394380BG Trooper Cornelis Johannes Muller from 61 Mechanised Battalion Group accidentally drowned in the Unit swimming pool at Omuthiya. He had only recently transferred into the Unit from 1 Special Service Battalion approximately a week before this unfortunate incident occurred. He was 19.
05 Dec 1984: 82831108SCC Trooper Johannes Fred from 202 Battalion SWATF was Killed when his Buffel Troop Carrier overturned in Northern Owamboland. He was 19.
05 Dec 1994: 94074135BU Private Enock Gumede attached to the Wallmannsthal Assembly Area was murdered after being attacked and stabbed to death by a mob at Kwa Mashu. He was 20.
05 Dec 1994: 10388213KV Sergeant Frans Johannes Moolman from the Lindley Commando was killed after suffering an accidentally self-inflicted gunshot wound while on patrol. He was in the process of crossing a railway line when he stumbled and accidentally discharged his R1 Rifle, fatally wounding himself in the process. He was 50.
05 Dec 1994: 91100743PK Private Silvester Hamberera from the South African Intelligence Corps attached to 2 Special Service Battalion was found hanging from a tree in the 2 Special Service Battalion bird park. No foul play was suspected. He was 31.
05 Dec 1999: 94991395PF Sapper Winners Resistance Nyapela from 2 Field Engineer Regiment was found dead with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head using his R4 rifle. He was 28.
05 Dec 2002: Warrant Officer II Jan Abraham Jerling from 41 Squadron was killed when he accidentally fell out of a Caravan aircraft onto the runway and broke his neck shortly after the aircraft had landed at Alldays during a night flying training flight. He was 36.
05 Dec 2012: Eleven members of the South African Air Force were killed when their C47TP Dakota 6840 crashed in bad weather near Giants Castle in the Drakensberg Mountain range while on a flight from Air Force Base Waterkloof to Umtata. The casualties were:
Crew Members:
Major Kurt Cecil Misrole Pilot & Aircraft Commander 35 Squadron
Captain Zack Malcolm Smith Co-Pilot 35 Squadron
Sergeant Eric Boes Flight Engineer 35 Squadron
Sergeant Boy Klaas Baloyi Trainee Load Master 44 Squadron
Sergeant Joseph Mokhetla Mamabolo Trainee Load Master 44 Squadron
Corporal Letshela Mofokeng Load Master 44 Squadron
Passengers:
Sergeant Lulamile Sobantu 503 Security Squadron
Corporal Njabulo Wellington Khomo 502 Security Squadron
Corporal Abisai Matlaila 503 Security Squadron
Corporal Msanyana Jacob Mthombeni 502 Security Squadron
Lance Corporal Notty Klaas Aphane 516 Security Squadron
Their names and sacrifices will not be forgotten.